Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencils POTW | BEAUTY

Hello!

"I had my eyes on this beauty for the longest of time. I'm talking months."

Purchase of the Week (or POTW) had become quite a series on BBXO (Read: POTW Chanel No 5). Until, one day, I kind of forgot about it. Okay, there were hauls featured (Read: Summer Holiday Haul) but the tag POTW was forgotten. Well, now we're bringing it back. Full force and in action! What better product to kickstart this series again than the oh-so-famous NARS velvet lip pencil drugstore dupe (wow, that's a mouthful): the Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Pencil.

"I did also like the colour range, there's a nude, an orange, a coral, a few reds and a few pinks"

I had my eyes on this beauty for the longest of time. I'm talking months. But with exam season upon us when my obsession first began, I wasn't able to satisfy that need for this pencil... until now. Well, the wait was worth it, because I am LOVING this lip pencil.

If you're a fan of the velvet/matte finish (Read: Bourjois Velvet Rouge), this product is right up your street. The Bourjois Velvet Rouge had become my go-to lip product that I'd dab on for a soft, everyday look and apply a thicker layer for a bold, going out look. After reading the reviews of more Bourjois Velvet Rouge colours, I had found out the best formulation was with the shade 'Nude-ist', which was the shade I had. Therefore, I was looking for something with the same finish without lacking in the quality front. This seemed like the product for me.

Before I make this entire post about Bourjois Velvet Rouge (goodness, can I say that any more times?!), let's refer back to Color Drama. Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet is also quite versatile as it can be dabbed on for a softer, everyday look, or applied as a thicker layer for a bolder look.

"What better product to kickstart this series again than the oh-so-famous NARS velvet lip pencil drugstore dupe"

Be sure to have your lips moisturised before applying the product, though (something I should've done). In the bottom photo you can see the little transfer it has, and that was only a very short while after applying. So you don't need to worry about that mug lip stain!

All in all, a great product that won't break the bank (£4.99 each at Boots.com) and good for various occasions. I did also like the colour range: there's a nude, an orange, a coral, a few reds and a few pinks. You're bound to find something you like!

Tell me, what's your favourite finish of a lip product? Do you prefer a sheen, matte or something in between?

Clinique Chubby Stick: Woppin' Watermelon | BEAUTY

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" Just as I expected - I was not sold."

There was definitely a phase of tinted lip balms. You know the time, when Maybelline BabyLips was sold out pretty much everywhere? Well, Clinique had jumped on that bandwagon and released these beauties - the Chubby Stick. Although the packaging is a real beauty, the product itself? Not so sure...

I'm not going to lie, I never had much of an interest in the Maybelline BabyLips phase, and still to this day would rather just use my trusty Burt's Bee's Pomegranate Oil Lip Balm - good for the real moisture and adds a little bit of a tint. Perfect.

Being a subscriber of Glamour Magazine, this popped through my letterbox one morning, and I was reluctant to try it. Having had a history of allergies to many lip balms (yep, Carmex is not my friend), I didn't know if this could be trusted. Anyhow, I went for plunge and tried it out. Just as I expected - I was not sold.
(For the record: No Allergic Reaction in sight!)

"Although the packaging is a real beauty, the product itself? Not so sure..."

Maybe it was the shade they send, or maybe it was the actual sheerness of the balm that put me off. It was super sheer, and although I was pleased with the lack of sticky-gloss feeling, it still wasn't a winner in my eyes.

If you're a fan of the glossy look (I'm more of a matte girl myself), and need something you would like to apply regularly throughout the day, giving a slight tint but not much - this is the one.

For me, it just left a greyish colour on my lips, and although it was slightly moisturising, something about it didn't feel right. Plus, as I'm not a biggie on that shiny lip-gloss look, this product was probably never going to work in my favour.

"although I was pleased with the lack of sticky-gloss feeling, it still wasn't a winner in my eyes."

If this product was more pigmented, I think I would have liked it. As shown above, this is a swatch of many layers of the balm - and if that came out in one swipe, I might have been sold.

In terms of packaging, it's a seller - no need for any sharpening and it's a cute little pencil.
I think it's one of those 'love it or hate it' kind of things, and at £17 a stick - I'm not quite loving it. Oh well, you can't win every time!

Tell me, are you a Matte or Glossy kind of person? 

Bag Essentials: Body Fragrance

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"Impulse was THE Chanel No. 5 of the adult world."

There are definitely times when you're out and about and find your bag has EVERYTHING in it... except for the one thing you need. Well, this is where this post comes in... one of the staples in your handbag, and a purchase of the week - something I find that is always handy!

"I had owned when it first came out many years ago... Into Glamour is still my fav! "

When I was younger, in secondary school, Impulse was THE Chanel No. 5 of the adult world. It's something every girl knew about and the smell that lingered in the P.E. changing rooms. Well, it's been a few years, but I feel like any girl, young or old, could do with a bit of Impulse. Or any body fragrance, in that case. 

" small, won't weigh your bag down, staple in every gals bag."

Why pick up two, you ask? Well, actually they were on sale. After a spritz or two of both the scents, I have fallen head over heels for 'Into Glamour'. Actually, that was the scent I had owned when it first came out many years ago, and Secret Smile is a new one for me, but Into Glamour is still my fav! 

"any girl, young or old, could do with a bit of Impulse."

Overall, a pretty small, won't weigh your bag down, staple in every gals bag.

What body fragrance/perfume do you keep in your handbag?

POTW: Nivea Creme Coconut Shower Cream

Hello!

"whenever I used it in the morning, I would be able to occasionally whiff it throughout the day, and I loved it!"

If it says 'coconut' on the pack, I can almost guarantee you I will be a fan. Coconut snacks, coconut hair oil, coconut body butter, coconut lip balms and you guessed it, coconut shower creme. Well, you can imagine me jumping around the shop when I saw this on the shelf in Sainsburys. Definitely my most exciting grocery shop this month! 

"I doubt it'll have the same effect as it's washed off - I shall keep you updated "

The actual product itself is the bog-standard Nivea shower product. They have released the in-shower  moisturiser which I have been meaning to try, because somedays we just want to skip the moisturising step, you know the days when you spent the night before finishing a really interesting book which lead you to run 3 hours past your 'bedtime'. 

"If it says 'coconut' on the pack, I can almost guarantee you I will be a fan."

Having not used this product yet, I can only hope that it leaves a lingering smell throughout the day. I used to have the Body Shop Coconut body butter and whenever I used it in the morning, I would be able to occasionally whiff it throughout the day, and I loved it! Getting that again would be great, yet as it's not a body butter, I doubt it'll have the same effect as it's washed off - I shall keep you updated on that.

"after I got out, I had forgotten I used it in the morning."

Having owned the powerfruit delight shower gel, I've already had a little experience with Nivea's shower products. Although powerfruit delight has a pleasant, wakening scent in the shower, after I got out, I had forgotten I used it in the morning. The positive aspect of powerfruit delight was the amount of lather it created - let's hope the creme coconut is as good, if not better, than powerfruit delight.

Have you used Nivea products before, if so, what are your thoughts?

POTW: Bourjois Velvet Rouge Edition Lip Gloss - Nude-ist

Hello!

"knew it was a must-try"

Where have you been if you haven't heard of this product or the Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain, currently only available in the US, which are coincidently both very similar in packaging?! I must say I was VERY excited when they were sitting there in the store and knew it was a must-try, especially with all the hype in the online beauty world! 

"Anything that is hair-sticking free, count me in!"

The shade Nude-ist was the one that found its way in my basket - the matte finish lip stain/gloss was another aspect of the product that caught my eye. Anything that is hair-sticking free, count me in! 

"looks as though it will last all day"

Having tried it on today, the colour is really pigmented - much more than I had thought, it also seemed to dry matte very quickly and looks as though it will last all day. The overall effect of the stain looks lovely, although I would recommend you to exfoliate your lips to avoid the flake thing that can be nasty.

"you'll understand the hype about them in the beauty world!"

The colour is gorgeous - even the swatch shows the pigment of the product when a tiny bit was used. 

Overall, definitely check these products out, they are totally worth their RRP of £8.99 and I'm sure you'll understand the hype about them in the beauty world! 

But tell me, are you more of a glossy or matte lip kind of person?